GSK appoints new VP for Chile, Peru, Ecuador

GlaxoSmithKline Plc has appointed Jorge Arévalo the vice-president (VP) of its pharmaceutical unit's south-Pacific Latin American business, according to a report by América Retail, a local retail-focussed website. In this role, Mr Arévalo will be responsible for business growth in Chile, Peru and Ecuador.

Mr Arévalo will also have the added responsibility of being the UK pharmaceutical company's general manager for Chile. He has been with GSK for eight years, most recently as VP for central America and the Caribbean region. He has worked in the healthcare industry for more than two decades, particularly focusing on Latin America and also Asia.

Under Mr Arévalo's charge, GSK aims to work on increasing access to its medicines and vaccines to patients in these countries. GSK has a significant international presence—covering 17 Latin and Central American countries—with revenues from these markets accounting for about 37% of its total revenue in 2016.

In February, the company had announced plans to shift its manufacturing plant in Costa Rica, along with 150 jobs at the location, to elsewhere in Latin America. The drugmaker attributed the move to a plan to restructure operations based on available production capacities.